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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Mantids (Mantodea) » Tarachodidae » Iris » Mediterranean Mantis (Iris oratoria)
Photo#655068
Some kind of praying mantis...species/sex? - Iris oratoria - male
Copyright © 2012 azleggs1

Some kind of praying mantis...species/sex? - Iris oratoria - Male
Glendale/No. Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA
June 9, 2012
Size: 2 - 2 1/2 inches
My cat had this mantis cornered in our backyard last night. It was dark but we had outside lights. He/she was in complete attack mode and we were surprised at the beautiful markings. Not like any mantis we ever saw growing up in NE Pennsylvania. This was much smaller and had black eyes instead of green that we were accustomed to. Can anyone identify species and sex? I took this pic with my Droid. Came out quite beautiful, don't you think?
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by azleggs1 on 10 June, 2012 - 4:52pm

Moved
Moved from Iris.
… John Stanard, 10 June, 2012 - 5:37pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… John Stanard, 10 June, 2012 - 5:36pm login or register to post comments

Perhaps...
... Mediterranean mantis, Iris oratoria ?
… Carmen Champagne, 10 June, 2012 - 4:57pm login or register to post comments

 
mantis id
Thanks Carmen...it indeed is the same species even though the head & eyes seem bigger on mine. so very colorful!!
… azleggs1, 10 June, 2012 - 9:45pm login or register to post comments

 
Definitely
I. oratoria. This is a male.
… John Stanard, 10 June, 2012 - 5:32pm login or register to post comments

 
mantis id
Thanks John...i believe you are correct...i felt so honored to have been able to capture these photos. He was so beautiful. We have Mediterranean house geckos and now Mediterranean mantis....who the heck brought them to Az??? lol
… azleggs1, 10 June, 2012 - 8:47pm login or register to post comments

 
Globalism
The global economy spreads them far and wide...some of our most recognizable North American mantids are foreigners. Some are spread via ootheca sales on catalogues and internet, while others are popular as "pets".
… John Stanard, 10 June, 2012 - 11:53pm login or register to post comments

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